"It was admirably adapted to make votes for his candidate, if speeches ever made votes. It was courteous, conciliatory, and prudent." The editor of the Chicago _Journal_ wrote as follows:-- "The supreme orator of the evening was General Garfield. He is a man of superb power and noble character.... He indulged in no fling at others. It was a model speech in temper and tone. The impression made was powerful and altogether wholesome. Many felt that if Ohio had offered Garfield instead of Sherman, she would have been more likely to win." CHAPTER XXIV. The Battle still Undecided.--Sunday among the Delegates.--Garfield's Remark.--Monday another Day of Doubt.--The Dark Horse.--The Balloting on Tuesday.--Garfield's Remonstrance.--He is Unanimously Elected on the Thirty-sixth Ballot.--Enthusiastic Demonstrations, Congratulatory Speeches and Telegrams.--His Speech of Acceptance. Garfield's eloquent speech was followed by one from Mr. Billings, of Vermont, who proposed Senator Edmunds as a nominee. Mr. Cassidy, of Wisconsin, presented the name of Elihu B. Washburne, of Illinois, and was seconded by Mr. Brandagee, of Connecticut. The battle was waged in this manner until a late hour on Saturday evening. Many of the delegates wanted to continue the balloting after midnight, and some urged the chairman, Judge Hoar, to ignore the Sabbath and let the convention go on. "Never!" he replied; "this is a Sabbath-keeping nation, and I cannot preside over this convention one minute after twelve." Garfield attended church in the morning, and dined with Marshall Field. The conversation at table turned upon the dead-lock in the convention and the quietus at Washington, where every one was waiting for further developments. Addressing the friend who sat beside him, Garfield said,-- "Yes, this is a day of suspense, but it is also a day of prayer; and I have more faith in the prayers that will go up from Christian hearts to-day, than I have in all the political tactics which will prevail at this convention." When President Hoar called the convention to order on Monday morning, an anxious crowd hastily took their seats and prepared for the coming battle. Eighteen ballots were cast during the day and ten more in the evening, with no decisive result. The weather was extremely hot, but the hall was filled to its utmost capacity, and at each roll-call the whole twelve thousand would simultaneously rise to their feet with a noise like the roar of thunder. It was late at night before the convention broke up, and some of the delegates did not retire at all. On Tuesday morning, a pencilled note, it is said, passed from Conkling to Garfield, which read as follows:-- "MY DEAR GARFIELD,--If there is to be a dark horse in this convention there is no man I would prefer before yourself. CONKLING." The reply was,-- "MY DEAR CONKLING,--There will be no dark horse in this convention. I am for Sherman.